Comprising seven multilevel booths, Thai Express Kitchen at St James Quarter will give customers a fun and private dining experience with lower wooden benches separated by steps that lead to a level above.

Launching December 11, the Edinburgh restaurant is the 300+ outlet brand’s first Scottish opening – and will also feature an open plan kitchen, with expert wok chefs cooking to order and using fresh and seasonal produce.

The new double decker booths are a nod to the design which is commonly found in traditional Southeast Asian eateries, offering an intimate and authentic experience for diners.

Uzma Pattani, who brought Thai Express to the UK with her partner Sachin, is excited to reveal the seating layout as a new concept for the brand’s first Scottish venture.

She said: “We wanted a restaurant design that will get people talking – and we couldn’t be happier with how the seating has taken shape.

“While it’s like nothing seen before in Scotland, it’s not a gimmick – the layout means that diners will have the privacy of their own booth, while we’re providing something fun and different. It’s adding to the experience.”

Thai Express Kitchen’s launch is a milestone moment for the Canadian brand – and its first “kitchen” venture within the UK, expanding on its beloved takeaway menus to also offer casual dining and a licensed bar.

Edinburgh will be its eighth and largest setting, with St James Quarter joining similar buzzy locations including Croydon, Wembley and Birmingham.